Dougal Fridgely

Doctor W. G. Van Hoyt, Professor of Astronomy at Leeds Royal
Observatory, surprised the scientific community this week by announcing the discovery of
Mr Dougal Fridgely of 42 Belvedere Crescent, Tadcaster.

Doctor Van Hoyt's shock
announcement is the result of many years of careful study, and although Mr Fridgely has
not yet been observed directly, his existence has been deduced from measurements made of
the irregularities in the orbit of the much larger Mrs Fridgely.

Not large enough to be classed as a planet

Mr Fridgely is not
large enough to be classed as a planet in the true scientific sense, but his existence is
nevertheless seen as an encouraging sign that there could indeed be other planets out
there.

"I think that many people will welcome this new
discovery," says Doctor Van Hoyt in a strangely unconvincing Germanic accent.
"For many years scientists have speculated on the possible existence of Mr Fridgely.
Now that we have firm evidence, investigation of this phenomenon can begin in earnest.
This is good, ya?"

Gas clouds

Spectrographic analysis of the gas clouds emanating from the
surface of Mr Fridgely have revealed that he has two children and works for an insurance
company. Claims that he has a wooden leg and speaks with a lisp have so far remained
unconfirmed.

However, next month NASA plan to capture the first images of Mr Fridgely
using the high resolution camera aboard the Hubble Space Telescope, and they have promised
that these pictures will be released to the media just as soon as they are back from the
chemist.